Natasha Baker

The Paralympian tells Lucy Elder about her life post-Tokyo, involving wedding plans, riding with a music megastar and why inclusivity in her sport is the name of the game

-  Lucy Elder

IT is a little over three months since four British riders pulled off one of the most spectacular Paralympic medal heists in sporting history. As medal after medal was draped around the squad’s necks, their mouths seemed to drop further with astonishment and pride at what their talented but completely unproven horses had achieved.

There was no falsity in that surprise. Three months later, the atmosphere in the arena, the heat, the spotlights now a treasured memory, that astonishment still shines as bright as the team gold they never expected to win.

“‘Lottie’ absolutely blew me away with what she achieved and her whole attitude,” says Natasha, her gaze flickering upwards to where her Tokyo superstar, Keystone Dawn Chorus, is watching her adored rider chat to me on Zoom.

“She just takes everything in her stride and that makes me so excited to see what we can achieve further down the line. I think our partnership grew even stronger out there, she put her trust in me. We’re still learning about each other and I know that they weren’t our three best tests. To know that there’s so much more there is really exciting.”

Even before Tokyo, the Brits already had half an eye on the longer-term goals of the 2022 World Games and Paris 2024. The lastminute withdrawal of two of Britain’s strongest hopes cemented intentions that Tokyo was a building year. The sporting gods, however, preferred a different script.

The pair’s team gold and two individual grade III silver medals are a fairytale result, let alone a starting point from which to build.